Apparant Windows 10 (home 64 bit) problem

[AJMSmith]

In the last couple of weeks or so my system seems a lot slower (as in almost unusable) if I have folding switched on. It seems that the numbers of interrupts has gone through the roof to the point of sub ms intervals per cpu.

Does anyone know what the cause might be? The CPU is an I7 running 7 threads and a GPU one too. My I5 (4 cores, no GPU running Windows 7 home 64 bits) seems unaffected.

[bruce]

To help you, we really need more information. See the information listed in my signature.

[AJMSmith]

I'm not sure what I can supply that would help. As I said what I've found is that the number of switches on Core_a4.exe (running utilizing 7 cores) seems more than a little on th high side at anything up to figures in excess of 100 KHz.

I doubt that the log would help that much but here is the top end.

Code: Select all

*********************** Log Started 2015-11-16T17:01:25Z ***********************
17:01:25:************************* Folding@home Client *************************
17:01:25:      Website: http://folding.stanford.edu/
17:01:25:    Copyright: (c) 2009-2014 Stanford University
17:01:25:       Author: Joseph Coffland <joseph@cauldrondevelopment.com>
17:01:25:         Args: 
17:01:25:       Config: C:/ProgramData/FAHClient/config.xml
17:01:25:******************************** Build ********************************
17:01:25:      Version: 7.4.4
17:01:25:         Date: Mar 4 2014
17:01:25:         Time: 20:26:54
17:01:25:      SVN Rev: 4130
17:01:25:       Branch: fah/trunk/client
17:01:25:     Compiler: Intel(R) C++ MSVC 1500 mode 1200
17:01:25:      Options: /TP /nologo /EHa /Qdiag-disable:4297,4103,1786,279 /Ox -arch:SSE
17:01:25:               /QaxSSE2,SSE3,SSSE3,SSE4.1,SSE4.2 /Qopenmp /Qrestrict /MT /Qmkl
17:01:25:     Platform: win32 XP
17:01:25:         Bits: 32
17:01:25:         Mode: Release
17:01:25:******************************* System ********************************
17:01:25:          CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz
17:01:25:       CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 60 Stepping 3
17:01:25:         CPUs: 8
17:01:25:       Memory: 7.95GiB
17:01:25:  Free Memory: 6.12GiB
17:01:25:      Threads: WINDOWS_THREADS
17:01:25:   OS Version: 6.2
17:01:25:  Has Battery: false
17:01:25:   On Battery: false
17:01:25:   UTC Offset: 0
17:01:25:          PID: 4816
17:01:25:          CWD: C:/ProgramData/FAHClient
17:01:25:           OS: Windows 10 Home
17:01:25:      OS Arch: AMD64
17:01:25:         GPUs: 1
17:01:25:        GPU 0: NVIDIA:4 GM107 [GeForce GTX 745]
17:01:25:         CUDA: 5.0
17:01:25:  CUDA Driver: 7050
17:01:25:Win32 Service: false
17:01:25:***********************************************************************
17:01:25:<config>
17:01:25:  <service-description v='Folding@home Client'/>
17:01:25:  <service-restart v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <service-restart-delay v='5000'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Client Control -->
17:01:25:  <client-threads v='6'/>
17:01:25:  <cycle-rate v='4'/>
17:01:25:  <cycles v='-1'/>
17:01:25:  <data-directory v='.'/>
17:01:25:  <disable-sleep-when-active v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <exec-directory v='C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient'/>
17:01:25:  <exit-when-done v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <fold-anon v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <open-web-control v='false'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Configuration -->
17:01:25:  <config-rotate v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <config-rotate-dir v='configs'/>
17:01:25:  <config-rotate-max v='16'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Debugging -->
17:01:25:  <assignment-servers>
17:01:25:    assign3.stanford.edu:8080 assign4.stanford.edu:80
17:01:25:  </assignment-servers>
17:01:25:  <auth-as v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <capture-directory v='capture'/>
17:01:25:  <capture-on-error v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <capture-packets v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <capture-requests v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <capture-responses v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <capture-sockets v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <core-exec v='FahCore_$type'/>
17:01:25:  <core-wrapper-exec v='FAHCoreWrapper'/>
17:01:25:  <debug-sockets v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <exception-locations v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <gpu-assignment-servers>
17:01:25:    assign-GPU.stanford.edu:80 assign-GPU2.stanford.edu:80
17:01:25:  </gpu-assignment-servers>
17:01:25:  <stack-traces v='false'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Error Handling -->
17:01:25:  <max-slot-errors v='10'/>
17:01:25:  <max-unit-errors v='5'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Folding Core -->
17:01:25:  <checkpoint v='15'/>
17:01:25:  <core-dir v='cores'/>
17:01:25:  <core-priority v='idle'/>
17:01:25:  <cpu-affinity v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <cpu-usage v='100'/>
17:01:25:  <gpu-usage v='100'/>
17:01:25:  <no-assembly v='false'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Folding Slot Configuration -->
17:01:25:  <cause v='ANY'/>
17:01:25:  <client-subtype v='STDCLI'/>
17:01:25:  <client-type v='normal'/>
17:01:25:  <cpu-species v='X86_PENTIUM_II'/>
17:01:25:  <cpu-type v='AMD64'/>
17:01:25:  <cpus v='-1'/>
17:01:25:  <gpu v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <max-packet-size v='normal'/>
17:01:25:  <os-species v='UNKNOWN'/>
17:01:25:  <os-type v='WIN32'/>
17:01:25:  <project-key v='0'/>
17:01:25:  <smp v='true'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- GUI -->
17:01:25:  <gui-enabled v='true'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- HTTP Server -->
17:01:25:  <allow v='127.0.0.1 192.168.1.0/24'/>
17:01:25:  <connection-timeout v='60'/>
17:01:25:  <deny v='0/0'/>
17:01:25:  <http-addresses v='0:7396'/>
17:01:25:  <https-addresses v=''/>
17:01:25:  <max-connect-time v='900'/>
17:01:25:  <max-connections v='800'/>
17:01:25:  <max-request-length v='52428800'/>
17:01:25:  <min-connect-time v='300'/>
17:01:25:  <threads v='8'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Logging -->
17:01:25:  <log v='log.txt'/>
17:01:25:  <log-color v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <log-crlf v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-date v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <log-date-periodically v='21600'/>
17:01:25:  <log-debug v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-domain v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <log-header v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-level v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-no-info-header v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-redirect v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <log-rotate v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-rotate-dir v='logs'/>
17:01:25:  <log-rotate-max v='16'/>
17:01:25:  <log-short-level v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <log-simple-domains v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-thread-id v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <log-thread-prefix v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-time v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-to-screen v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <log-truncate v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <verbosity v='5'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Network -->
17:01:25:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
17:01:25:  <proxy-enable v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <proxy-pass v=''/>
17:01:25:  <proxy-user v=''/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Process Control -->
17:01:25:  <child v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <daemon v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <pid v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <pid-file v='Folding@home Client.pid'/>
17:01:25:  <respawn v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <service v='false'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Remote Command Server -->
17:01:25:  <command-address v='0.0.0.0'/>
17:01:25:  <command-allow-no-pass v='127.0.0.1 192.168.1.0/28'/>
17:01:25:  <command-deny-no-pass v='0/0'/>
17:01:25:  <command-enable v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <command-port v='36330'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Slot Control -->
17:01:25:  <idle v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <max-shutdown-wait v='60'/>
17:01:25:  <pause-on-battery v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <pause-on-start v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <paused v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <power v='FULL'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- User Information -->
17:01:25:  <machine-id v='0'/>
17:01:25:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
17:01:25:  <team v='35947'/>
17:01:25:  <user v='Allan_Smith'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Web Server -->
17:01:25:  <web-allow v='127.0.0.1'/>
17:01:25:  <web-deny v='0/0'/>
17:01:25:  <web-enable v='true'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Web Server Sessions -->
17:01:25:  <session-cookie v='sid'/>
17:01:25:  <session-lifetime v='86400'/>
17:01:25:  <session-timeout v='3600'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Work Unit Control -->
17:01:25:  <dump-after-deadline v='true'/>
17:01:25:  <max-queue v='16'/>
17:01:25:  <max-units v='0'/>
17:01:25:  <next-unit-percentage v='99'/>
17:01:25:  <stall-detection-enabled v='false'/>
17:01:25:  <stall-percent v='5'/>
17:01:25:  <stall-timeout v='1800'/>
17:01:25:
17:01:25:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
17:01:25:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
17:01:25:  <slot id='1' type='GPU'/>
17:01:25:</config>
17:01:25:Trying to access database...
17:01:25:Successfully acquired database lock
17:01:25:Enabled folding slot 00: READY cpu:7
17:01:25:Enabled folding slot 01: READY gpu:0:GM107 [GeForce GTX 745]
17:01:25:Started thread 4 on PID 4816
17:01:25:Started thread 8 on PID 4816
17:01:25:Started thread 5 on PID 4816
17:01:25:Started thread 6 on PID 4816
17:01:25:Started thread 7 on PID 4816
17:01:25:Started thread 9 on PID 4816
17:01:25:WU01:FS01:Starting
17:01:25:WU01:FS01:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" C:/ProgramData/FAHClient/cores/web.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/AMD64/NVIDIA/Fermi/Core_21.fah/FahCore_21.exe -dir 01 -suffix 01 -version 704 -lifeline 4816 -checkpoint 15 -gpu 0 -gpu-vendor nvidia
17:01:25:WU01:FS01:Started FahCore on PID 3508
17:01:25:Started thread 10 on PID 4816
17:01:26:WU01:FS01:Core PID:6828
17:01:26:WU01:FS01:FahCore 0x21 started
17:01:26:WU00:FS00:Starting
17:01:26:WU00:FS00:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" C:/ProgramData/FAHClient/cores/web.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/AMD64/Core_a4.fah/FahCore_a4.exe -dir 00 -suffix 01 -version 704 -lifeline 4816 -checkpoint 15 -np 7
17:01:26:WU00:FS00:Started FahCore on PID 1648
17:01:26:Started thread 11 on PID 4816
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:Core PID:3528
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:FahCore 0xa4 started
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:0xa4:
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:0xa4:*------------------------------*
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Folding@Home Gromacs GB Core
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Version 2.27 (Dec. 15, 2010)
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:0xa4:
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Preparing to commence simulation
17:01:27:WU00:FS00:0xa4:- Ensuring status. Please wait.
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:*********************** Log Started 2015-11-16T17:01:27Z ***********************
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:Project: 10495 (Run 17, Clone 4, Gen 56)
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:Unit: 0x000000408ca304f555c68f153759a18d
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:CPU: 0x00000000000000000000000000000000
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:Machine: 1
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:Digital signatures verified
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:Folding@home GPU Core21 Folding@home Core
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:Version 0.0.12
17:01:28:WU01:FS01:0x21:  Found a checkpoint file
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:- Looking at optimizations...
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:- Working with standard loops on this execution.
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:- Previous termination of core was improper.
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:- Files status OK
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:- Expanded 825631 -> 1401112 (decompressed 169.7 percent)
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=825631 data_size=1401112, decompressed_data_size=1401112 diff=0
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:- Digital signature verified
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Project: 9024 (Run 658, Clone 1, Gen 71)
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:
17:01:37:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Entering M.D.
17:01:42:WU01:FS01:0x21:Completed 1000000 out of 5000000 steps (20%)
17:01:42:WU01:FS01:0x21:Temperature control disabled. Requirements: single Nvidia GPU, tmax must be < 110 and twait >= 900
17:01:43:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Using Gromacs checkpoints
17:01:43:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Mapping NT from 7 to 7 
17:01:43:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Resuming from checkpoint
17:01:43:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Verified 00/wudata_01.log
17:01:43:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Verified 00/wudata_01.trr
17:01:44:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Verified 00/wudata_01.xtc
17:01:44:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Verified 00/wudata_01.edr
17:01:44:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 186810 out of 250000 steps  (74%)
17:02:12:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 187500 out of 250000 steps  (75%)
17:03:36:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 190000 out of 250000 steps  (76%)
17:05:01:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 192500 out of 250000 steps  (77%)
17:06:31:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 195000 out of 250000 steps  (78%)
17:07:54:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 197500 out of 250000 steps  (79%)
17:09:16:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 200000 out of 250000 steps  (80%)
17:10:38:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 202500 out of 250000 steps  (81%)
17:12:04:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 205000 out of 250000 steps  (82%)
17:13:29:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 207500 out of 250000 steps  (83%)
17:14:51:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 210000 out of 250000 steps  (84%)
17:16:13:WU00:FS00:0xa4:Completed 212500 out of 250000 steps  (85%)
17:16:55:WU01:FS01:0x21:Completed 1050000 out of 5000000 steps (21%)

Reducing the number of cores from 7 to 6 does not appear to help.

As far as I can judge it appeared at or about the same time as the recent changes to Cortana but doubt that that is the cause as I have that turned off (as I don't use it).

The most obvious sign that something is out of kilter is that the mouse pointer starts to lag behind where it should be.

[bollix47]

Although changing the number of CPU cores from 7 to 6 may not appear to help I suspect it will. Doing so will leave a full core to address the GPU's needs and probably help with any lag you're seeing. The subsequent loss in PPD for the CPU slot will not be huge and may well be offset by a slight increase in the PPD for the 745.

I do suggest finishing the current work unit before changing the number of cores as doing so mid-WU can cause a failure. You can right-click on the CPU slot in Advanced Control (aka FAHControl) and select Finish and re-configure the slot once it is finished, then right-click on it again and select Fold.

One other option you could change in your browser settings is turn off Hardware Acceleration ... having it on can and usually does create lag when GPU folding.

[AJMSmith]

I'm already leaving the 8th core for the GPU (and most of the time it fully utilises it). Hardware acceleration appears to be off.

It's the fact that the change is recent that leaves me quite as puzzled as I am.

[bollix47]

Please don't confuse cores and threads ... they are different and their abilities are different. Your 4790 is a 4-core 8-thread CPU and leaving one thread for GPU folding and any other work is not the same as leaving a full core.

[bruce]

Reducing the number of cores from 7 to 6 does not appear to help.

As far as I can judge it appeared at or about the same time as the recent changes to Cortana but doubt that that is the cause as I have that turned off (as I don't use it).

The most obvious sign that something is out of kilter is that the mouse pointer starts to lag behind where it should be.

In my experience, when the mouse pointer lags, it's NOT related to how many CPUs are running low priority tasks (including FahCore_xx), it's related to the utilization of the GPU.

OSs make two assumptions: (1) the GPU is faster than the CPU when updating the screen, and (2) The GPU is rarely busy. When FAH is using the GPU, the second assumption is False. The first assumption is true only if the second is also true. The CPU is faster when your software can interrupt whatever else the CPU is doing to update the screen.

You have two or three choices.
1) Reconfigure all of your software to use the CPU for screen rendering.
2) Reconfigure the GPU slot to run only when your system is idle.
3) Suspend all GPU folding.

I do not recommend option 3.
Option 2 is pretty easy to do, option 1 is a bit harder but not really unreasonable.

To confirm my assessment, temporarily suspend GPU processing and confirm your mounse is responsive. (You can even temporarily increase the number of CPU threads, but that's probably a waste of your time.)

[mmonnin]

I use a program to set the affinity of fah cores to specific CPU cores. a4 gets 6, core 18/21 get the 8th core, other programs I try to set to 7. l. Without the exes locked the PC would become extremely slow until the client was paused and restarted. And that would begin after a new WU started.